Canon 300D vs SL2

The Canon EOS 300D (called Canon Rebel in some regions) and the Canon EOS Rebel SL2 (labelled Canon 200D in some countries) are two digital cameras that were officially introduced, respectively,
in August 2003 and June 2017. Both are DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) cameras that are equipped with an APS-C sensor. The 300D has a resolution of 6.3 megapixels, whereas the SL2 provides 24 MP.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Canon EOS 300D and the
Canon EOS Rebel SL2? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors,
their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

Body comparison: Canon 300D vs SL2

The physical size and weight of the Canon 300D and the Canon SL2 are illustrated in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive perspectives from the front, the top, and the back are available. All width, height and depth dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

The SL2 can be obtained in two different colors (black, white), while the 300D is
only available in silver.

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size,
the Canon SL2 is notably smaller (19 percent) than the Canon 300D. Moreover, the SL2 is markedly lighter (30 percent) than the 300D. In this context, it is worth noting that neither the 300D nor the SL2 are weather-sealed.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete since they do not consider the interchangeable lenses
that both of these cameras require. In this particular case, both cameras feature the same lens mount, so that they can use the same lenses.
You can compare the optics available in the Canon EF Lens Catalog.

The adjacent table lists the principal physical characteristics of the two cameras alongside a wider set of alternatives. If you would like to visualize and compare a different camera combination, just use the right or left
arrows in the table to switch to the respective camera. Alternatively, you can also navigate to the CAM-parator app and
make your selection from the full list of cameras there.

Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.

Any camera decision will naturally be influenced heavily by the price. The listed launch prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The SL2 was launched at a markedly lower price (by 39 percent) than the 300D, which puts it into a different market segment. Normally, street prices remain initially close to the MSRP, but after a couple of months, the first discounts appear. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.

Sensor comparison: Canon 300D vs SL2

The imaging sensor is at the core of digital cameras and its size is one of the main determining factors of image quality. All other things equal, a large sensor will have larger individual pixel-units that offer better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Further, a large sensor camera will give the photographer additional creative options when using shallow depth-of-field to isolate a subject from its background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be more expensive and lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Both cameras under consideration feature an APS-C sensor, but their sensors
differ slightly in size. The sensor area in the SL2 is 3 percent smaller. They nevertheless have the same format factor of 1.6. Both cameras have a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 3:2.

Technology-wise, the SL2 uses a more advanced image processing engine (DIGIC 7)
than the 300D (DIGIC), with benefits for noise reduction, color accuracy, and processing speed.

Despite having a slightly smaller sensor, the SL2 offers a higher
resolution of 24 megapixels, compared with 6.3 MP of the 300D.
This megapixels advantage comes at the cost of a higher pixel density and a smaller size of the individual pixel
(with a pixel pitch of 3.72μm versus 7.38μm for the 300D). However, it should be noted that the SL2 is much more recent (by 13 years and 10 months) than the 300D, and its sensor
will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that make it possible to gather light more efficiently.

The SL2 has on-sensor phase detect pixels, which results in fast and reliable autofocus acquisition even during live view operation.

The Canon EOS 300D has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 1600.
The corresponding ISO settings for the Canon EOS Rebel SL2 are ISO 100 to ISO 25600, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 100-51200.

For many cameras, data on sensor performance has been reported by DXO Mark. This service assesses and scores the color depth ("DXO Portrait"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports") of camera sensors, and also publishes an overall camera score. Of the two cameras under consideration, the SL2 offers substantially better image quality than the 300D (overall score 24 points higher). The advantage is based on 2.6 bits higher color depth, 2.6 EV in additional dynamic range, and 0.9 stops in additional low light sensitivity. The following table provides an overview of the physical sensor characteristics, as well as the sensor quality measurements for a selection of comparators.

Sensor Characteristics

Camera Model

Sensor Class

Resolution (MP)

Horiz. Pixels

Vert. Pixels

Video Format

DXO Portrait

DXO Landscape

DXO Sports

DXO Overall

Camera Model

Canon 300D»

APS-C

6.3

3072

2048

-

21.0

10.8

544

55

Canon 300D

Canon SL2«

APS-C

24.0

6000

4000

1080/60p

23.6

13.4

1041

79

Canon SL2

Canon SL3«»

APS-C

24.0

6000

4000

4K/25p

-

-

-

-

Canon SL3

Canon T7«»

APS-C

24.0

6000

4000

1080/30p

-

-

-

-

Canon T7

Canon 77D«»

APS-C

24.0

6000

4000

1080/60p

23.6

13.3

971

78

Canon 77D

Canon T6s«»

APS-C

24.0

6000

4000

1080/30p

22.6

12.0

915

70

Canon T6s

Canon G1 X Mark II«»

1.5-inch

13.0

4160

3120

1080/30p

21.5

10.8

581

58

Canon G1 X Mark II

Canon 700D«»

APS-C

17.9

5184

3456

1080/30p

21.7

11.2

681

61

Canon 700D

Canon SL1«»

APS-C

17.9

5184

3456

1080/30p

21.8

11.3

843

63

Canon SL1

Canon 650D«»

APS-C

17.9

5184

3456

1080/30p

21.7

11.2

722

62

Canon 650D

Canon G1 X«»

1.5-inch

14.2

4352

3264

1080/24p

21.7

10.8

644

60

Canon G1 X

Canon 400D«»

APS-C

10.1

3888

2592

-

22.1

11.0

664

62

Canon 400D

Canon 350D«»

APS-C

8.0

3456

2304

-

21.8

10.8

637

60

Canon 350D

Canon 20D«»

APS-C

8.2

3504

2336

-

21.9

11.0

721

62

Canon 20D

Canon 10D«»

APS-C

6.3

3072

2048

-

21.1

10.9

571

57

Canon 10D

Nikon D70«»

APS-C

6.0

3008

2000

-

20.4

10.3

529

50

Nikon D70

Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but can also record movies. The SL2 indeed provides for movie recording, while the 300D does not. The highest resolution format that the SL2 can use is 1080/60p.

Feature comparison: Canon 300D vs SL2

Beyond body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. The 300D and the SL2 are similar in the sense that both have an optical viewfinder.
The latter is useful for getting a clear image for framing even in brightly lit environments. The viewfinders of both cameras offer the same field of view (95%), but
the viewfinder of the 300D has a higher magnification than the one of the SL2 (0.55x vs 0.54x),
so that the size of the image transmitted appears closer to the size seen with the naked human eye. The following table reports on some other key feature differences and similarities of the Canon 300D, the Canon SL2, and comparable cameras.

Core Features

Camera Model

Viewfinder (Type or '000 dots)

Control Panel (yes/no)

LCD Size (inch)

LCD Resolution ('000 dots)

LCD Attach- ment

Touch Screen (yes/no)

Mech Shutter Speed

Shutter Flaps (1/sec)

Built-in Flash (yes/no)

Built-in Image Stab

Camera Model

Canon 300D»

optical

n

1.8

118

fixed

n

1/4000s

2.5

Y

n

Canon 300D

Canon SL2«

optical

n

3.0

1040

swivel

Y

1/4000s

5.0

Y

n

Canon SL2

Canon SL3«»

optical

n

3.0

1040

swivel

Y

1/4000s

5.0

Y

n

Canon SL3

Canon T7«»

optical

n

3.0

920

fixed

n

1/4000s

3.0

Y

n

Canon T7

Canon 77D«»

optical

Y

3.0

1040

swivel

Y

1/4000s

6.0

Y

n

Canon 77D

Canon T6s«»

optical

Y

3.0

1040

swivel

Y

1/4000s

5.0

Y

n

Canon T6s

Canon G1 X Mark II«»

-

n

3.0

1040

tilting

Y

1/4000s

5.2

Y

Y

Canon G1 X Mark II

Canon 700D«»

optical

n

3.0

1040

swivel

Y

1/4000s

5.0

Y

n

Canon 700D

Canon SL1«»

optical

n

3.0

1040

fixed

Y

1/4000s

4.9

Y

n

Canon SL1

Canon 650D«»

optical

n

3.0

1040

swivel

Y

1/4000s

5.0

Y

n

Canon 650D

Canon G1 X«»

optical

n

3.0

922

Swivel

n

1/4000s

1.9

Y

Y

Canon G1 X

Canon 400D«»

optical

n

2.5

230

fixed

n

1/4000s

3.0

Y

n

Canon 400D

Canon 350D«»

optical

n

1.8

115

fixed

n

1/4000s

3.0

Y

n

Canon 350D

Canon 20D«»

optical

Y

1.8

118

fixed

n

1/8000s

5.0

Y

n

Canon 20D

Canon 10D«»

optical

Y

1.8

118

fixed

n

1/4000s

3.0

Y

n

Canon 10D

Nikon D70«»

optical

n

1.8

130

fixed

n

1/8000s

3.0

Y

n

Nikon D70

One differentiating feature between the two cameras concerns the touch sensitivity of the rear screen. The SL2
has a touchscreen, while the 300D has a conventional panel. Touch control can be particularly helpful, for example,
for setting the focus point.

The SL2 has an articulated screen that can be turned to be front-facing. This characteristic will be appreciated by
vloggers and photographers who are interested in taking selfies. In contrast, the 300D does not have a selfie-screen.

The Canon SL2 has an intervalometer built-in. This enables the photographer to
capture time lapse sequences, such as flower blooming, a sunset or moon rise, without purchasing an external camera trigger and related software.

The 300D writes its imaging data to Compact Flash cards, while the SL2 uses SDXC cards.

Connectivity comparison: Canon 300D vs SL2

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Canon EOS 300D and Canon EOS Rebel SL2 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

Input-Output Connections

Camera Model

Hotshoe Port

Internal Microphone

Internal Speaker

Microphone Port

Headphone Port

HDMI Port

USB Type

WiFi Support

NFC Support

Bluetooth Support

Camera Model

Canon 300D»

Y

-

-

-

-

-

1.1

-

-

-

Canon 300D

Canon SL2«

Y

stereo

mono

Y

-

mini

2.0

Y

Y

Y

Canon SL2

Canon SL3«»

Y

stereo

mono

Y

-

mini

2.0

Y

-

Y

Canon SL3

Canon T7«»

Y

mono

mono

-

-

mini

2.0

Y

Y

-

Canon T7

Canon 77D«»

Y

stereo

mono

Y

-

mini

2.0

Y

Y

Y

Canon 77D

Canon T6s«»

Y

stereo

mono

Y

-

mini

2.0

Y

Y

-

Canon T6s

Canon G1 X Mark II«»

Y

stereo

mono

-

-

mini

2.0

Y

Y

-

Canon G1 X Mark II

Canon 700D«»

Y

stereo

mono

Y

-

mini

2.0

-

-

-

Canon 700D

Canon SL1«»

Y

mono

mono

Y

-

mini

2.0

-

-

-

Canon SL1

Canon 650D«»

Y

stereo

mono

Y

-

mini

2.0

-

-

-

Canon 650D

Canon G1 X«»

Y

stereo

mono

-

-

mini

2.0

-

-

-

Canon G1 X

Canon 400D«»

Y

-

-

-

-

-

2.0

-

-

-

Canon 400D

Canon 350D«»

Y

-

-

-

-

-

2.0

-

-

-

Canon 350D

Canon 20D«»

Y

-

-

-

-

-

1.1

-

-

-

Canon 20D

Canon 10D«»

Y

-

-

-

-

-

1.1

-

-

-

Canon 10D

Nikon D70«»

Y

-

-

-

-

-

1.0

-

-

-

Nikon D70

It is notable that the SL2 offers wifi support, which can be a very convenient means to transfer image data
to an off-camera location. In contrast, the 300D does not offer wifi capability.

Both the 300D and the SL2 have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used
on eBay. The 300D was replaced by the Canon 350D, while the SL2 was followed by the Canon SL2. Further information on the two cameras (e.g. user guides, manuals), as well as related accessories, can be found on the official Canon website.

Review summary: Canon 300D vs SL2

So what is the bottom line? Is there a clear favorite between the Canon 300D and the Canon SL2? Which camera is better? Below is a summary of the relative strengths of each of the two contestants.

Reasons to prefer the Canon EOS 300D:

Larger viewfinder image: Features a viewfinder with a higher magnification (0.55x vs 0.54x).

More heavily discounted: Has been available for much longer (launched in August 2003).

Arguments in favor of the Canon EOS Rebel SL2:

More detail: Has more megapixels (24 vs 6.3MP), which boosts linear resolution by 95%.

More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced category (39 percent cheaper at launch).

More modern: Reflects 13 years and 10 months of technical progress since the 300D launch.

If the count of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a measure, the SL2 is the clear winner of the contest (24 : 2 points). However, the pertinence of the various camera strengths will differ across photographers, so that you might want to weigh individual camera traits according to their importance for your own imaging needs before making a camera decision. A professional wedding photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges
from the perspective of a travel photog, and a person interested in cityscapes has distinct needs from a macro shooter. Hence, the decision which camera
is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

300D 02:24 SL2

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Canon 300D and the Canon SL2 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest
Best DSLR Camera listing whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the comparison of the spec-sheets of cameras can offer a general idea of their imaging potential, it says little about, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance of the 300D and the SL2 in practical situations. User reviews that are available, for instance, at amazon can sometimes shed light on these issues, but such feedback is all too often partial, inconsistent, and inaccurate.

Expert reviews: Canon 300D vs SL2

This is where reviews by experts come in. The adjacent summary-table relays the overall verdicts of several of the most popular camera review sites (cameralabs, dpreview, ephotozine, imaging-resource, and photographyblog). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge,
reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

The above review scores should be interpreted with care, though. The ratings are only valid when referring to cameras in the same category and of the same age. A score, therefore, has to be seen in close connection to the price and market introduction time of the camera, and comparing ratings of very distinct cameras or ones that are far apart in terms of their release date have little meaning. Also, kindly note that some of the listed sites have over time developped their review approaches and their reporting style.

Other camera comparisons

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